UMass Lowell improves to 2-0 on the young season, while Felician falls to 0-2 overall.
Sophomore Romeo Diaz (Methuen, Mass.) propelled his team forward, netting 13 of his 15 points in the second half, while classmate Scotty Tavares-Taylor (Roxbury, Mass.) tallied a game-best 23 points on the afternoon.
“That’s the Romeo Diaz we recruited and that’s the Romeo Diaz we need to win basketball games,” said Head Coach Greg Herenda. “If he plays with that aggression and tenacity, the entire team flows and plays better. I’m very happy for him because he played a really terrific game tonight.”
Felician nearly closed the first stanza on a 12-4 run, putting them up 50-35 in the waning seconds of the half, but it was a three from junior Robbie Walton (South Boston, Mass.) to stop the bleed and bring the game within 12 at the buzzer. The bucket was a major momentum shift for the River Hawks, as they went to the locker room down 50-38.
It was a run that began just over three minutes into the second frame, though, that led the River Hawks to their second come-from-behind victory this weekend. The squad forced seven turnovers in 13 minutes, committing just one during that span. It began with a jumper nailed by Tavares-Taylor at the 16:50 mark, followed by a steal by Diaz, four free throws, a jumper by junior John Corbacio (Stoney Creek, Ont.) and Walton’s coast-to-coast fast break layup that knotted the game at 52 apiece with 13:47 remaining.
The River Hawks followed that stretch with a 16-7 run, capped by a layup from freshman Darrell Ward (White Plains, N.Y.) with 4:39 left in the game. The second run was also highlighted by seven points from fellow freshman Akeem Williams (Brockton, Mass.), including a huge three pointer for the go-ahead (55-54) at 12:22. He followed up the long-range basket with a jumper just under a minute later to grow the lead to three.
The squad held on, building its lead to as many as 14 with 2:36 remaining, finishing the game with the 10-point advantage. They forced Felician to just 24.1% shooting in the second, compared to a 57.6% showing in the first. The River Hawks shot 42.6% in the game.
UMass Lowell forced 17 Golden Falcon turnovers, committing just 11 of their own, also stealing the ball nine times compared to just two by Felician.
Diaz finished the game just shy of a double-double with 15 points and eight boards, adding three blocks, as well. Tavares-Taylor netted 23 points and went 10-12 from the charity stripe and grabbed three steals in the game, while sophomore Matt Welch (Lowell, Mass.) finished the afternoon with 11 points, six rebounds, four assists and a pair of blocks.
Williams notched 15 points on the day, adding a couple of steals and two boards, going 6-10 from the floor and 2-4 from long range. Walton finished the game with seven points, four boards and four assists, while classmate Corbacio netted five points in the tilt.
Felician was led by a double-double from Devon Young, who tallied 12 points and 10 boards, while Suquan Gary netted 19 points in the game. Three other Golden Falcons scored in double-figures, as well.
“We played two experienced teams this weekend,” Herenda said. “I knew if we didn’t quickly learn how to play well against men, we would have a long two days on our hands. I think that our team showed a lot of resolve and played well, though, so that excites me. They just need to learn how to go ahead earlier instead of always coming from behind.”
Next up, the River Hawks will open their conference schedule with a Wednesday night tilt against the Purple Knights of Saint Michael’s College at 7:30 in Costello Gymnasium.
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